In social work and social science publications related to family treatment, triangulation may refer to patterns of family and interpersonal interaction rather than research methods.
Crano, William D. 1981. Triangulation and cross-cultural research. In Scientific inquiry and the social sciences: A volume in honor of Donald T. Campbell. Edited by M. Brewer and Barry E. Collins, 317–344. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Triangulation. Investigator triangulation: involves multiple researchers in an investigation Theory triangulation: involves using more than one theoretical scheme in the interpretation of the phenomenon Methodological triangulation: involves using more than one option to gather data, such as interviews, observations, questionnaires, and documents.
Theory triangulation: involves using more than one theoretical scheme in the interpretation of the phenomenon. Methodological triangulation: involves using more than one option to gather data, such as interviews, observations, questionnaires, and documents.
The origins of triangulation in social work and in the wider social sciences are only metaphorically related to the process in geometry by which a point’s location is established by measuring angles and distances to it from two previously established points.
These works introduced the key ideas in triangulation and in mixed methods research, which stems from the logic of triangulation. Campbell and Fiske 1959 introduced the idea of triangulation in a paper addressing quantitative research. The authors argue that validity always requires multiple methods and multiple data sources. Webb, et al.
Oxford Bibliographies Online is available by subscription and perpetual access to institutions. For more information or to contact an Oxford Sales Representative click here.
Triangulation to minimize bias. The problem with relying on just one option is to do with bias. There are several types of bias encountered in research, and triangulation can help with most of them. Measurement bias – Measurement bias is caused by the way in which you collect data.
Triangulation facilitates validation of data through cross verification from more than two sources. It tests the consistency of findings obtained through different instruments and increases the chance to control, or at least assess, some of the threats or multiple causes influencing our results .
Triangulation is not just about validation but about deepening and widening one’s understanding. It can be used to produce innovation in conceptual framing.
Sampling bias – Sampling bias is when you don’t cover all of the population you’re studying (omission bias) or you cover only some parts because it’s more convenient (inclusion bias). Triangulation combines the different strengths of these options to ensure you getting sufficient coverage.